Understanding how people of different ages think about ratios
Official title: Cognitive Processes Underlying Ratio Representation Across Development
Funded at Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. · NIH-11184212 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how people of all ages, from kids to adults, think about and use ratios in their daily choices and schoolwork, aiming to find out how these thought processes change when dealing with different types of amounts, which could help us improve decision-making skills in areas like money and health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Piscataway, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $243,576 |
| NIH project number | 5R00HD104990-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11184212 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation include children aged 0-11 and adults over 21 who are interested in cognitive development and decision-making processes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not within the age range of 0-11 or 21+ years old may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how individuals, from children to adults, understand and use proportional reasoning in everyday decision-making and academic contexts. It aims to identify the cognitive processes that underlie this reasoning, particularly how these processes differ when dealing with discrete versus continuous quantities. By employing a developmental and computational approach, the study will explore the cognitive mechanisms that influence how people represent and process ratios across different age groups. This could help in understanding how to improve decision-making skills related to financial and medical risks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance educational strategies and interventions aimed at improving proportional reasoning skills in children and adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in understanding cognitive processes related to reasoning, making this study a continuation of established work in the field.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
Piscataway, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hurst, Michelle — Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
- Study coordinator: Hurst, Michelle
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Causes and consequences of intra-genomic coevolution
Scientists are studying how repetitive DNA in human cells interacts with proteins to impact genome health, fertility, and cellular functions.
-
How BRAF changes spark serrated colon cancer, from stem cells
This project studies how a BRAF mutation affects colon stem cells to understand what triggers serrated colon cancer.
-
Understanding how copper affects staph bacteria to fight infections
Scientists are studying how copper ions change the proteins inside Staphylococcus aureus to find new ways to treat resistant infections.
-
Sensory guidance of how diet affects healthy aging
Researchers will study how the way we experience food and our senses influence aging, using fruit-fly models to mirror human dietary choices.
-
Non-Invasive AI-Enhanced Neonatal Blood Pressure Monitoring in NICUs
A new AI-powered system uses the baby’s existing sensors to continuously track blood pressure in the NICU without invasive procedures, helping clinicians spot problems early.
-
How the brain drives overeating and weight loss with GLP-1 medications
Scientists are studying how brain circuits that control food seeking respond to obesity and weight loss with a GLP-1 drug, to understand why weight loss often doesn’t hold.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.